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Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities

Slaves In The Christian Household : The Colossian And Ephesian Haustafeln In Context, Donald Murray Vasser Dec 2020

Slaves In The Christian Household : The Colossian And Ephesian Haustafeln In Context, Donald Murray Vasser

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Alternative Financial Models For Churches And Church Plants: When Tithes And Offerings Are Not Enough, W. Jay Moon Oct 2020

Alternative Financial Models For Churches And Church Plants: When Tithes And Offerings Are Not Enough, W. Jay Moon

Great Commission Research Journal

Many churches face financial strains, forcing some to close every year. Similarly, potential church plants may be delayed or disbanded due to a lack of finances. Instead of relying solely on tithes and offerings, this article provides six nontraditional financial approaches that churches can implement to promote financial viability and missional impact. The interaction of the church’s financial liquidity (low or high) and relational networks (closed or open) provides a starting point to determine which approach may be best in the church’s context. Practical applications are provided through examples of contemporary churches using these approaches.


Church-Based Research: Challenges And Opportunities, David R. Dunaetz Oct 2020

Church-Based Research: Challenges And Opportunities, David R. Dunaetz

Great Commission Research Journal

Because the church is the body of Christ, research focused on the Great Commission and Jesus’ concern for evangelism and disciple-making needs to be church-based. The goal of such research is to better share God’s love to a world who does not know him by building up a collection of knowledge that will enable us to do so. This research may be both theological (focusing on what the Bible and other theologians have said) and scientific (focusing on collecting new data and interpreting it, especially in light of theology). Church-based scientific research may be either qualitative (exploring broad ideas and …


Narcissistic Pastors And The Making Of Narcissistic Churches, Darrell Puls Oct 2020

Narcissistic Pastors And The Making Of Narcissistic Churches, Darrell Puls

Great Commission Research Journal

Can churches take on the pathological behaviors associated with narcissism through the influence of a narcissistic pastor? While there is a large body of literature on narcissistic individuals, and a smaller body of research into narcissistic organizations, there is little research on the prevalence of toxic narcissism in clergy and little to none on narcissistic churches. This paper is written from the perspective of currently available research and the author’s experience in working with churches suffering from severe internal conflicts in which both the pastor and church evidenced toxic levels of narcissism. The intent is to increase awareness, open a …


A Missional Outreach Model In The Czech Republic: A Postchristian, Secular Culture, Petr Činčala Oct 2020

A Missional Outreach Model In The Czech Republic: A Postchristian, Secular Culture, Petr Činčala

Great Commission Research Journal

The Czech Republic is one of the most secular countries in the world. Moreover, the church has not been growing over the last few decades. This case study presents the church planting efforts in the city of Liberec, focusing on an outreach center started by a small number of Christians with the goal of sharing Christ’s love in culturally relevant ways. The initial efforts led to a family-centered activity center with many programs that helped develop personal relationships, trust, and open doors to share the gospel. An English class and gospel choir have been at the center of the outreach, …


The Structure Of Second Corinthians : Paul's Theology Of Ministry, Kei Hiramatsu Oct 2020

The Structure Of Second Corinthians : Paul's Theology Of Ministry, Kei Hiramatsu

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


The Power Of Faithfulness In Relational Evangelism, Lance C. Hahn Oct 2020

The Power Of Faithfulness In Relational Evangelism, Lance C. Hahn

Great Commission Research Journal

Many evangelistic efforts bear little fruit. It may be due to our inability to convey the right information, but it may also be due to an inappropriate environment for the information to be interpreted correctly. This article describes a process that God may use to engage a person whose heart has been prepared, so that the seed sown is received, not only as truth, but with joy. Relational evangelism carried out faithfully allows consistent sowing until chaotic moments open the heart.


Church Planting, Humanitarian Services, And Christian Holiness In Central India : A Study Of The Life And Mission Of Ernest And Phebe Ward, Shivraj Kumar Mahendra Jun 2020

Church Planting, Humanitarian Services, And Christian Holiness In Central India : A Study Of The Life And Mission Of Ernest And Phebe Ward, Shivraj Kumar Mahendra

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Spiritual Formation Of Millennials : An Exploration Of Best Practices For Crosspoint Church, Robert D. Chartrand May 2020

Spiritual Formation Of Millennials : An Exploration Of Best Practices For Crosspoint Church, Robert D. Chartrand

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Grace That Goes Before : John Wesley's Doctrine Of Prevenient Grace And Its Significance For Youth Ministry, Brandon W. Dasinger May 2020

Grace That Goes Before : John Wesley's Doctrine Of Prevenient Grace And Its Significance For Youth Ministry, Brandon W. Dasinger

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


The Unity Of The Spirit's Creative Work : Creation And Soteriology In The Scholastic Pneumatology Of William Burt Pope, Laura Garverick May 2020

The Unity Of The Spirit's Creative Work : Creation And Soteriology In The Scholastic Pneumatology Of William Burt Pope, Laura Garverick

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


The Unnecessary Aporia Of Religious Language : Exploring The Meaning And Function Of Religious Language, Dylan Q. Ziegler May 2020

The Unnecessary Aporia Of Religious Language : Exploring The Meaning And Function Of Religious Language, Dylan Q. Ziegler

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


A Theology Of Romance For Married Couples, Cameron J. Scalera May 2020

A Theology Of Romance For Married Couples, Cameron J. Scalera

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Intellectual Humility As It Pertains To Self-Knowledge, Nicholas S. Grounds Apr 2020

Intellectual Humility As It Pertains To Self-Knowledge, Nicholas S. Grounds

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


An Abundance Of Good Things : Paul Ricoeur's Cultural Imagination And A Phenomenology Of Deuteronomism, Tad C. Blacketer Apr 2020

An Abundance Of Good Things : Paul Ricoeur's Cultural Imagination And A Phenomenology Of Deuteronomism, Tad C. Blacketer

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


The Song Of Cuba’S Great Awakening: Music In Baptist Worship And Witness, Michael Sharp, Ed Steele Apr 2020

The Song Of Cuba’S Great Awakening: Music In Baptist Worship And Witness, Michael Sharp, Ed Steele

Great Commission Research Journal

From the 1990s to the present, Cuban Baptists have witnessed a time of unparalleled church growth. During that time frame, musicians have participated in ministries aimed at church growth by organizing largescale public musical events, compiling a Cuban hymnal that included indigenous cubano worship songs, developing new programs of leadership training for church musicians, and employing music in missionary projects both at home and abroad. This article explores what can be learned from the Cuban Baptists’ experience regarding music as an effective tool in evangelism, the value of musicians reaching musicians as a mission strategy, the importance of ethnodoxology in …


That All May Hear: How Indigenous Church Music Encourages Church Growth In Africa, Trevor Yoakum Apr 2020

That All May Hear: How Indigenous Church Music Encourages Church Growth In Africa, Trevor Yoakum

Great Commission Research Journal

This article demonstrates how indigenous church music can be an effective tool in promoting healthy church growth. After defining indigenous church music through the insights of ethnodoxology, the author explains how it engages local hearers through their own conceptual categories. This cognitive interaction is relevant in that it augments comprehension of biblical themes and content. But it also impacts hearers through the various levels of their worldview. The article ends with a case study of how a consortium of African theological institutions and IMB missionaries are developing orality-based indigenous music to teach, refute heresy, and evangelize the continent.


Igniting Hope Among Gen Z, Billy Mcmahan Apr 2020

Igniting Hope Among Gen Z, Billy Mcmahan

Great Commission Research Journal

Generation Z is the future of the Church. We need to begin equipping followers of Jesus to welcome them home. This article explores the seven common characteristics of Generation Z. It will also dive into research done among current youth workers from around the country and then provide some strategies on how to engage Generation Z based on that research. About 90 million young Americans fit into the age bracket of Generation Z.1 As the Church, we need to understand their worldview. As they emerge into adulthood, it will be vital to the health of the Church overall to equip …


The Life Of Donald Mcgavran: Leaving A Legacy, Gary L. Mcintosh Apr 2020

The Life Of Donald Mcgavran: Leaving A Legacy, Gary L. Mcintosh

Great Commission Research Journal

As the Church Growth Movement continued to develop, it gained strength and respect. The establishing of the McGavran Chair of Church Growth was a red-letter day, which established the CGM as an academic discipline. Donald and Mary McGavran slowly backed away from direct ministry, but continued to follow the movement’s impact. This except reports the final years of McGavran’s life and ministry


Book Review: Remission: Rethinking How Church Leaders Create Movement By Gary Comer, Jim Roden Apr 2020

Book Review: Remission: Rethinking How Church Leaders Create Movement By Gary Comer, Jim Roden

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Something Old, Something New: How New Churches Are Embracing Liturgy, Winfield Bevins Apr 2020

Something Old, Something New: How New Churches Are Embracing Liturgy, Winfield Bevins

Great Commission Research Journal

The movement toward ancient church tradition has been well documented; however, there has also been a steady rise of new churches that are embracing church tradition and liturgy. The first part of this article will examine the history behind this movement and the factors that have contributed to its development. Next, it will look at four case studies of new churches that are embracing liturgy, which I refer to as neo-liturgical churches. It will end with an exploration of the promise that this may hold for reaching young adults.


“Lift Up Your Eyes”: Case Study Of Journey Church, Tucson, Jim Roden Apr 2020

“Lift Up Your Eyes”: Case Study Of Journey Church, Tucson, Jim Roden

Great Commission Research Journal

The receptivity principle of church growth discerns who in the local population is generally responsive to the gospel. The biblical warrant for this principle is seen in Jesus’ instructions to his disciples (Mark 5:11) and in Paul’s ministry (Acts 14:19-20). Donald McGavran emphasized, “Evangelism can be and ought to be directed to responsive persons, groups, and segments of society…. Correct policy is to occupy fields of low receptivity lightly.” The experience of anxiety typifies gospel-receptive groups; when their anxiety dissipates, their gospel receptivity diminishes. The special-needs population and those who are close to them experience unrelieved chronic anxiety that predisposes …


Book Review: Jesus Revolution: How God Transformed An Unlikely Generation And How He Can Do It Again Today By Greg Laurie And Ellen Vaughn, H. L. Ward Jr. Apr 2020

Book Review: Jesus Revolution: How God Transformed An Unlikely Generation And How He Can Do It Again Today By Greg Laurie And Ellen Vaughn, H. L. Ward Jr.

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: L.E.A.R.N. Evangelism Handbook: Giving Away The Greatest Gift By Marshall Windsor, Sanejo Leonard Apr 2020

Book Review: L.E.A.R.N. Evangelism Handbook: Giving Away The Greatest Gift By Marshall Windsor, Sanejo Leonard

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


The Acts Way: Returning To The Original Plan A Of Church Planting, Joshua D. Sorrows Apr 2020

The Acts Way: Returning To The Original Plan A Of Church Planting, Joshua D. Sorrows

Great Commission Research Journal

This article examines the question: Is there a way to plant gospel-centered churches faster? Building off of Donald McGavran’s homogeneous unit theory, this article explores the biblical basis, the varied methodologies, and the successful implementation of a micro-church planting strategy in the Colorado Rockies. It evaluates the validity of micro-church planting alongside our current methods of church planting. The article calls for consideration to return to the Acts model of church planting through disciple-making that will help the Church go deep and reach wide.


Musical Worship: The New Sacrament?, Elsen Portugal Apr 2020

Musical Worship: The New Sacrament?, Elsen Portugal

Great Commission Research Journal

Music has been present in the worship practices of Christian communities as far back as the early days of the Church. Its presence has not been merely tolerated but intentionally integrated into liturgical practices, sometimes reflecting practices under the old covenant, and at other times adopting other shapes. Music’s meaning and power have also been variously evaluated by theologians and laypeople through the centuries. In certain segments of Christianity, music has even developed a theological relationship to concepts of sacrament. Such a relationship has penetrated the “worship event” in the latter part of the twentieth century and has frequently become …


Giftive Mission Lives : Verbeck, Judson, Ricci & Timothy I, Zonia Mitchell Mar 2020

Giftive Mission Lives : Verbeck, Judson, Ricci & Timothy I, Zonia Mitchell

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Spirit Possession In Luke-Acts And Modern Eyewitnesses : An Analysis Of Anthropological Accounts As Evidence For The Plausibility Of The Lukan Accounts, Joy L. Vaughan Mar 2020

Spirit Possession In Luke-Acts And Modern Eyewitnesses : An Analysis Of Anthropological Accounts As Evidence For The Plausibility Of The Lukan Accounts, Joy L. Vaughan

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Incomparable? : Authenticating Criteria In Historical Jesus Scholarship And General Historical Methodology, Kevin B. Burr Mar 2020

Incomparable? : Authenticating Criteria In Historical Jesus Scholarship And General Historical Methodology, Kevin B. Burr

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Early Christian Responses To Persecution And Their Implications For Christians In Northern Nigeria, Yakubu Tanko Jakada Mar 2020

Early Christian Responses To Persecution And Their Implications For Christians In Northern Nigeria, Yakubu Tanko Jakada

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.